Compare towns
Sharon vs Wilder vs Middlesex vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cavendish has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sharon | Wilder | Middlesex | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,087Highest |
1,943 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Sharon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Middlesex and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Sharon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 17% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Wilder and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 18 photos → |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.